Paramecium (slipper animal)
Paramecium spp. · Aquatic life
Under the microscope · Photo: CC0
Also called Slipper animalcule, Ciliate
How to identify Paramecium (slipper animal)
- Microscopic slipper shaped cell about 0.05 to 0.3 mm
- Covered in fine beating cilia; swims fast in spirals
- Groove on one side leading to the mouth
- Sometimes visible as tiny white specks in a jar of rich water
Similar species
Other ciliates are similar under low power; Stentor is trumpet shaped and Vorticella sits on a stalk.
Profile
| Season | All year; most abundant in warm months. |
|---|---|
| Depth | Near the bottom and in decaying material |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Cell division and mating; some form cysts |
| Habitat | Still water rich in decaying organic matter: lagoons, manure affected ponds, ditches and leaf filled shallows. |
Why it matters in a lake
Feeds on bacteria, so large numbers point to organic pollution or decaying material. Common in wastewater lagoons.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Chromista |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Ciliophora |
| Class | Oligohymenophorea |
| Order | Peniculida |
| Family | Parameciidae |
| Scientific name | Paramecium spp. |
Vorticella (bell animal)
Difflugia (sand shell amoeba)
Arcella (dome shell amoeba)
Stentor (trumpet animal)
Daphnia (water flea)Need a hand?
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